Arthurian Tarot

[craghopper]

Has anyone used or own the Arthurian Tarot by Miranda Gray & Caitlin and John Matthews?

I like the look but would like to know more before I buy?

Thanks in advance!

[Lee]

Hi craghopper, here's something that might help:

http://www.tarotpassages.com/arthurianlegendlb.htm

-- Lee

[Majecot]

Craghopper

I have Legend, I think the Arthurian is maybe brighter in color but my preference is Legend, obviously :)
There are some similarities... the above link does have an excellent review.
Perhaps that will help you make a choice.. Or since the area that you are living in is such an influence, perhaps you need both :D

[Lurea]

I've read on the author's site that the Hallowquest/Arthurian Tarot is being reprinted...but with white surrounds, instead of black.

That makes me really really glad I have an old copy with the black surrounds. I think that white surrounds will tend to bleach out the colors in the illustrations. I was looking at the Legend deck just the other day, and thinking how the picture on the box (surrounded by black) looked ten times more vived than the actual card (surrounded by a large, drab grey border).

And the Enchanted is another deck with large white borders, that seems unusually pastel. So count me a happy camper! What do you think?

[Sidhe-Ra]

The hallowquest was my very first deck, many years ago, and I love it still! For me, the images are so evocative, the mood of each card portrayed so well, that I was able to read with it without the need for much study. And even though I am now so very familiar with it, the power of the images- particularly the Death card, washer woman- give me the chills.

Apart from that, it's much more than a divination deck. The Hallowquest system is something that John and caitlin have spent many years developing as a tool for self development, for meditation, and for questing for the grail.

So, its thumbs up from me!

Blessings,

Em :)

[Leo62]

I was lucky enough to get the old black-bordered version recently in a trade. I agree with Lurea about the change for the new version. Also, the black borders are arch-shaped, which really seems to draw you into the cards.

It's a very evocative deck, though I've only begun to skim the surface...

A warning though - the suits and majors both have non-standard titles. And as Sidhe-Ra says, there's a deep and complex system behind this deck - it's certainly not a RWS-clone read-out-of-the-box deck.

Edited to add:
I also have the Legend, and I love them both. Very different takes on the same material.

[Merenwen]

I recently bought a copy with the black borders. I love it! I can't decribe how it feels, but the feeling is certainly unique! (It's a nice feeling :p )

[Cerulean]

Hello--I'm thinking of opening a thread for opinions on the old and new Hallowquest versions. I have three versions...

My 1995-96 purchase of the Hallowquest with black borders; red original handbook; blue Hallowquest year study course. I used this version for varous online study groups following the deck for a year...for self-reflection mostly.

My 2005 purchase of the Hallowquest with the same black borders and same backs; light blue handbook with same text as the red original version--just shrunk down; light blue journal and nice small 'case' for the three. I cut off the borders to have a smaller deck to carry around. I never really used it for readings with other people because it just didn't seemed designed for this use--my opinion.

My 2006 purchase of the Hallowquest with the white borders and green backs; purple small textbook has substantially different highlights with a two-line description of the original scene; a meaning one can use for real-life wisdom thoughts; a reversed meaning; and a study question that goes to the heart of the description and scene.

There's a few spreads that the Matthews have written and highlights that I'd forgotton in the deck. For instance, all the majors are said to have a 'totem' animal--even the Wheel is from the Merlin's Eye. Also the highlights of the major arcana from Seeker to World and some quotes in the front of the sections just pull more useful ideas about the deck...

I liked how the packaging or card design felt better to me when it had a more airy feel.

In terms of the cards --while none of the details have been magnified nor the card printing or size seems to be altered, I seem to see this deck more clearly. I found that I like the white-bordered one much much better for reading tarot in real life events.

Anyway, hope that is helpful. I bought mine via Amazon.com UK...they were very reasonable.

Regards,

Cerulean

[Cerulean]

http://www.hallowquest.org.uk/medframe.htm

This is in the minibook that comes with the deck. I found it helpful to me in terms of using the cards to read for others...and beyond my usual one-to-two card draw of just 'meditating' on the card image and message.

Hope this is of interest and helpful. I really am enjoying looking at this deck in a fresh way.

Regards,

Cerulean

[delizt]

Where can I order the white border version? I have the black and I would love an alternate minikit, THanks

[Cerulean]

I bought mine via Amazon.com UK...they were very reasonable.

Hope that helps.

Cerulean

[delizt]

thanks I'll go and check it out now...

[jackdaw*]

Tarot Garden also has it in stock, wouldn't hurt to check with Jeannette.